Vietnam and the Philippines are the Southeast Asian countries closest to a trade deal with the U.S., said a former assistant U.S. trade representative on a webinar hosted by the Asia Program of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace on June 17.
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President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters as he flew back a day early from the Group of 7 summit in Canada, called both Japan and the EU tough negotiators, but said there's a chance that a deal can be arrived at with Japan.
The additional in-quota Section 232 tariff rate for British cars will be 7.5% under a deal recently concluded with the U.K., so that the combined most-favored nation and 232 tariff will be 10% as long as imports are under the 100,000 annual tariff rate quota amount, beginning seven days after the June 16 executive order is published in the Federal Register.
Changes in how the Commercial Customs Operations Advisory Committee is organizing its working groups, as well as further discussion about the potential incorporation of "real-time modern processes," are coming at a time when CBP appears to be putting greater emphasis on trade enforcement as part of a broader effort to bolster national security.
Importer Monarch Metals told the Court of International Trade that its stainless steel wire imports are products of Japan and not China, meaning its goods were improperly subjected to Section 301 and Section 232 tariffs. In a complaint filed June 13, Monarch Metals said that under CBP's prior application of the substantial transformation test to steel wire, no substantial transformation occurs by drawing steel rod into steel wire (Monarch Metals v. United States, CIT # 24-00266).
For derivative aluminum imports where the country of smelt and cast isn't known, importers should report "unknown" and Section 232 duties of 200% will be assessed, CBP said in a June 13 cargo systems message.
The executive director of the U.S. office of the top association for Mexico's businesses echoed the upbeat line of his government, that the USMCA carveouts in the global trade war give Mexico and Canada a leg up.
The Bureau of Industry and Security is adding several new subheadings, largely covering household appliances, to the list of derivatives subject to 50% Section 232 tariffs on steel, it said in a notice. The additions, which take effect 12:01 a.m. ET June 23, including subheadings 8418.10.00; 8418.30.00; 8418.40.00; 8422.11.00; 8450.11.00; 8450.20.00; 8451.21.00; 8451.29.00; 8509.80.20; 8516.60.40; and 9403.99.9020.
As the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit mulls the government's emergency stay motion against a Court of International Trade decision permanently enjoining tariffs issued under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, five different groups of amici filed briefs at the appellate court either attacking or defending the trade court's ruling.